Mower



Dec, 17, 1940. n. s. KINKEAD f 2,225,119 Y f y uowx y Filed Aug. 28, 1939 4? 1 Robe-.rt S. Knkea v @2M gw Patented Dec. 17,` 1940 OFFICE MowER p Robert s'. xinkead, st. Paul, Application August 2s, 1939, sei-iai No. 292,227 t 3 claims. Ierse-26.5) v

My invention Yrelates to mowers and particullarly to two-wheeled sickle typemowers and has for an object to provide a mower which willibe extremely efficient and practical in operation.

5 Another object of the invention resides in providing a mower by means of whichtall vegetation may becut. i' f A still 'further object of the invention resides in providinga mower in which an opening is pro-A vided between the wheels of the mower and through the framework thereof and v through which the vegetation may pass and in further providing means for positively causing the vegetation cut tol pass through the said opening.

An'object of the invention resides in providing a deector for turning the tops of the vegetation cut away from the opening and directing the.

stalks of thevegetat'ion cut into the opening.

Another object of the invention resides in utilizing a transverse bar-as the ysaid defiector and in disposing said bar above the sickle.

A feature of the invention resides in arranging the bar somewhat forwardly of the sickle. 1

Another object o f the invention resides in positioning said bar at Lan` elevation between sixteen and thirty inches above the sickle.

An object of the invention resides in providing means forming a tunnel .open atfthe front and communicating with `the opening through the ing said defiector at the forward end of the tunnel for directing the stalks of the vegetation cut into,

In the use of. mowers, such as illustrated in my Patent No. 2,063,168 issued yDecember `8, 1936,

' 45 considerable dlmculty is encountered when a mower -is used for cutting tally weeds or other vegetation which is greater'in `height than the dis-- tance of the horizontal frame member above the ground. In such cases the vegetation piles up aheadof the mower and will not pass through the opening in the mower provided for the purpose. When vegetation is cut by a machine of such character, the tops of ,the vegetation cut fall rearwardly and the piling up of the vegetation occurs. I have found that, when a deflector,

framework `of the mower and in furthery arrang-v such asy shown in the instant applic'ation'is employed and arranged, as disclosed, the tops of the vegetation cut are caused to fall Aforwardly and the stalksof the vegetation cut to fall rearwardly. Y This causes the vegetation to enter the opening in the frameworkf'of the mower Astalk first and to pass through the same.l I have found that, under they same conditions, vegetation that wouldclog the mower when the mower was used without the defiectonwould readily pass through the mower when the deflector was employed. I have also found that tall vegetation' five and six feet tall maybe successfully cut and caused `to pass through the openingin the frame work of the mower without diiiiculty when the mower is equipped with a'de'fiector such as disclosed yin the instant application for' patent. My invention hence overcomes the difficulties heretofore encountered' and above referred to. 1

For the purpose of illustrating the application of my invention, I have shown in Fig. 1 a mower which I have indicatedin its entirety `by. the ref# erencercharacter A. #This niower` comprises two supporting wheels ,I0 fand II which, in the instant case, are illustrated las being provided with rubber tires. Theselwheels are mountedon axles I5 which are journalled .in suitable-bearings carried by a framework-indicated in its entiretyl bythe reference numeral I2. This framework includes two vertical frame members I3 to which the bearings ljournalling the wheels II) and II are attached. Such construction being wellvknown in the art have not been illustrated in detail. Theupper ends of these vertical frame members I3have secured to them a horizontal frame member I4 which, Ain theparticular mower shown, is disposed at an elevation above the wheels III land II. kAttached tothe vertical frame members I3 and to thenhorizontal framev member Mare two forwardly extending lateral frame members I'I andl I8V which are` tubular inv form. i

The sickle of the mower is'designatedy in'its entiretyby` the Ireference numeral I9 .andtconsists of a sickle framev 2I and a sickle :bar 22 reciprocable alongwsaid frame. This sickle bar carries knives 23which are adapted to cooperate with similar knives 24 on the sickle frame and to cut the vegetationy passing therebetween. The sickle frame 2I is carriedby the forward ends of y thelateral frame membersy I1 and I8 so that the sickle v,lil may cut the .vegetation fairly closeto' the ground. `For supporting the mower at thel locality of the sickle I9, two shoes 49 areemployed which slide upon the ground and which are attached to the sickle frame 2I. By means of the arrangement of the frame members of frame I2 and the disposition of the wheels III and II, with reference to the sickle I3, an opening is provided through the said framework and between the wheels I3 and II through which the vegetation cut by the sickle I9 may pass. This opening is designated by the reference numeral 43 in Fig. l.

The sickle bar 22 is reciprocated by means of a mechanism including a shaft 25 passing through one of the lateral frame members I1. 'I'his shaft has a lever 23 connected to it, which lever is operated through a'suitable mechanism, not shown. by means of a gasoline engine 21, mounted on the horizontal frame m'ember I4.

A shaft 23, also driven from the engine 21, serves to drive the axles I5 and I6 and to rotate wheels I3 and II whereby the mower is propelled.

Two handle bars 23, formed with hand grips 3| at the ends thereof, are attached to the horizontal frame member I4 and project rearwardly of the mower where the same may be grasped by the user who walks behind the mower and guides the same and controls the operation thereof. For

the purpose of operatingthe mower controls 32 and 33 are carried by the handle bars 23 in easy reach of the operator.

The invention proper consists of a deflector 34 which is constructed from a bar or rod of metal and which is bent to form a cross bar 35, and uprights 36 and 31. The deflector 34 is attached to a frame 33, U-shaped in form, which has two legs 39 and 4I, and a connecting portion 42 therebetween. This frame is preferably bent from bar material in the form shown. The connecting portion 42 of said frame is disposed along the forward edge of the horizontal frame member I4 of framework I2, while the legs 33 and 4I extend along the upper surfaces of the two lateral frame members I 1. 'I'his frame is secured to the framework I2 by means of bolts 43 which extend through the frame 33 and are threaded into the framework I2. The lowermost ends of thefuprights 36 and 31 of deiiector 34 are welded or otherwise secured to the lower ends of the legs 39 and 4I of frame 33. It will be noted that the uprights 36 and 31 lie in the vertical planes containing frame members I1 and that the cross bar 35 is disposed upwardly above the sickle I3 and somewhat forwardly thereof.

,Inv conjunction with the deflector34 I employ a number of longitudinally extending bars 45, 46 and 41. The bars 45 are `connected to the upright 36 and the leg 33 of frame 33. The bars 46 extend between the cross bar 35 of deector 34 and the connecting portion 42 of frame 38. Bars' 41 similarly extend between the upright 31 and the leg 4I of frame 33. All of these bars may be welded to the respective parts between which they extend or the same may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. These bars lerve as guide members and form, in conjunction, a tunnel designated in its entirety by the reference character B, which tunnel is open at the front and communicates with the opening 43 through the framework I2 of the mower. The said tunnel is formed partly by the defiector 34, the forward edges of which serve to engage the vegetation being cut and to direct the same into the tunnel.

The operation of the invention is as follows: When the mower travels along the ground, kthe sickle i3 cuts the vegetation in close proximity to the ground. As the vegetation is cut the deilector 34, and particularly the cross bar 35 thereof, engages the vegetation and turns the tops of the vegetation forwardly of the mower and causes the stalks of the cut vegetation to be directed rearwardly into the tunnel B. When the vegetation is so directed, the same passes through the said tunnel and opening 43 of the framework I2, so that the vegetation passes completely through the mower and does not pile up in advance of the mower to clog the same. The uprights 33 and 31 also assist in turning over the vegetation where the vegetation is heavy. though the same merely separate the cut from the uncut portion of the vegetation where the vegetation is light.

I have found that the deector bar 3l of my invention may be set at an elevation of between sixteen and thirty inches above the sickle depending upon the type of vegetation to be cut and the maximum height of the vegetation. Where the vegetation varies between twenty and thirty inches, the cross bar of the deflector may be set at an elevation of approximately sixteen inches. Where the vegetation to be cut is taller, the cross bar of the deflector may be set at an elevation up to thirty inches. In order to be of service in turning the vegetation I have found that the said bar should not be set at an elevation greatly exceeding thirty inches. A t an elevation below fifteen inches the defiector does not greatly assist in causing the vegetation to pass through the mower, since with mowers constructed in accordance with the ordinary practice vegetation of this height will readily pass through without assistance. For average conditions I have found that an elevation between twenty and twentyfour inches above the sickle will handle most types and heights of vegetation and cause the same to pass through the mower without clogging.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. An extremely simple device is provided for procuring the desired results. My invention may readily be attached to existing mowers without appreciable reconstruction thereof. My invention utilizes no complicated or intricate parts and will function indefinitely without attention. With my invention the vegetation is positively fed through the mower so that extremely tall vegetation may be handled.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mower, two spaced supporting wheels, a framework supported on said supporting wheels and including a transverse frame member spaced above the ground and forwardly extending lateral frame members, a sickle carried by the forward ends of said lateral frame members, the forwardly extending lateral frame member and wheel on one side of the mower being spaced from the corresponding parts on the other side of the mower, to provide an opening through which vegetation cut by the sickle may pass, a U-shaped deector having uprights secured to the frame at the localities of the forward ends of the lateral frame members and a cross bar connected to the upper ends of said uprights, the forward edge of said cross bar being concave and disposed `in a substantially horizontal plane.

2. In a mower, two spaced supporting wheels, a framework supported on said supporting wheels and including a transverse frame member dis posed above the ground and forwardly extending lateral frame members, a sickle carried by the forward ends of said -laterai frame members,

the forwardly extending lateral Irame member and wheel on one side of the mower being spaced from the corresponding parts on the other side of the mower to provide an opening through which vegetation out by the sickle may pass a U-shaped deector having uprights secured to the framework at the locality of the forward ends of the lateral frame members and a cross bar connected to the upper ends of the uprights, and longitudinally extending guide members connected to the cross bar and uprights and extending toward the framework of the mower and forming in conjunction with said frame work and'deflector a tunnel through which the vegetation cut may pass, said deflector turning the tops of the vegetation out away from the tunnel and directing the stalks of the vegetation cut into the tunnel.

3. In a mower, two spaced supporting wheels, a framework supported on said supporting wheels and including a transverse frame member spaced above the ground and forwardly extending lateral frame members, a sickle carried by the forward ends of said lateral frame members, the

forwardly extending lateral frame member and wheel on one side of the mower being spaced from the corresponding parts on the other side of the mower to provide an opening through which vegetation cut by the sickle may pass, a U-shaped det 

